Reversible oxygen-binding and facilitated oxygen transport in membranes of polyvinylimidazole complexed with cobalt-phthalocyanine

A membrane with an oxygen-binding capability and nanometer thickness was prepared by complexing cobalt-phthalocyanine as an oxygen carrier with the copolymer of vinylimidazole and octyl methacrylate. The complex showed reversible oxygen-binding in the solution state at low temperature. The permeability coefficient of oxygen (PO2) through this membrane was much higher than that of nitrogen (PN2) (PO2/PN2>20) and increased at lower upstream oxygen pressure. The facilitation of oxygen transport was augmented by increasing the concentration of the oxygen carrier, cobalt-phthalocyanine fixed in the membrane.